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Ultimate Costa Rica

Beaches, jungles, volcanoes and wildlife!

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Was £1,295

£1,036

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UItimate Costa Rica

Group Size: Max 20

Trip code: TUCR

Duration: 10 days

Group adventure tour in Costa Rica
Explore one of the world's most diverse countries!
Loads of included activities!

It’s easy to see why Costa Rica is one of Lonely Planet's top destinations! With beautiful beaches, unparalleled biodiversity, laid-back locals and a dizzying array of adventure activities in one compact country, it’s perfect for intrepid travellers. We’ll take you on an epic route from San Jose to Santa Teresa with safaris, surf, swimming-holes, zip-lines and star-gazing in between – what are you waiting for?!

Trip highlights

  • See Costa Rica’s unique nocturnal animals on a night safari
  • Fly over the rainforest canopy on a zip-line in Monteverde Cloud Forest
  • Take a sunset yoga class on beautiful Santa Teresa beach
  • Get to know the locals at Coope San Juan village
  • Soak in the hot springs at La Fortuna
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What's included
  • 9 nights’ accommodation
  • 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
  • In-country transport between destinations
  • Tour guide
  • Airport pick up
  • San Juan Coope village experience
  • Cooking demo & bike ride
  • Monteverde night safari
  • Cloud forest zip-lining
  • El Salto swimming hole visit
  • Hot spring visit
  • Sunset yoga class
  • Beach trip to Montezuma
  • 24 hour emergency support
What's not included
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas
  • International flights
  • Return airport transfer
  • Most meals, plus snacks and drinks
  • Optional activities and excursions
Further trip information

Day 1: San Jose. Welcome to Costa Rica! You’ll be met at the airport by one of our team members and taken to your accommodation in San Jose. Meet with your guide and group this evening for dinner and drinks.

Day 2: Local village experience. Travel to Coope San Juan, a rural community surrounded by pineapple plantations and protected forest. Enjoy a cooking demo before exploring the area on bikes. It’s a really immersive cultural experience.

Day 3: La Fortuna. Today’s destination is the adventure capital of Costa Rica – La Fortuna! Nestled at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano, it’s an area rich in geo-thermal activity. We’ll visit one of the local hot springs, complete with waterslides, swim-up bars and waterfalls!

Day 4: La Fortuna. This morning we’re off to El Salto swimming hole. Sunbathe on the rocks or fly over the pool on the rope swing like Tarzan! Try out an adrenaline activity this afternoon. From canyoneering to white-water rafting and volcano hikes, there’s something for everyone.

Day 5: Monteverde. Travel to the Monteverde Cloud Forest today, with a scenic boat ride across the lake. This evening, you’ll experience the best of Costa Rica’s wildlife with a night safari (most animals here are nocturnal). See sloths, armadillos, frogs and snakes – totally magical!

Day 6: Monteverde. This morning we’ll head to one of Monteverde’s mind-blowing zip-lining tracks! Fly through the jungle canopy keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife. This afternoon is free for you to spend as you choose, before grabbing some dinner with the group this evening.

Day 7: Santa Teresa. Arrive late afternoon into the beautiful beachside town of Santa Teresa. After you’ve dumped your bag, stroll down to the beach, have a dip and then kick back with a drink on the sands.

Day 8: Santa Teresa. Free day today. Bliss out on the beach, take a surf lesson, or grab an ice-cold smoothie under the palm trees. Later, we’ll get our zen on with a sunset yoga class, then head out for dinner with the group.

Day 9: Montezuma. We’re off to the lovely little beach town of Montezuma today! We’ll head to Montezuma’s Waterfall for a refreshing dip to cool down before wandering into town for a spot of lunch. This afternoon, we’ll soak up some rays and swim in the gorgeous sea at the beach before heading back to Santa Teresa to freshen up ready for a farewell dinner.

Day 10: Santa Teresa and trip end. All good things come to an end and it’s time to either head home or continue your travels. Adios amigos!

Real customer reviews
Costa Rica Facebook Group Discussion

I’m looking to book the Central American Journey tour early July. Has anyone done it/ planning to go? xx

Hi, I’m looking into the ultimate Costa Rica tour. Looking for some feedback. Would you recommend backpack or suitcase? x 🙂

Just wondering if anyone else was planning on doing the Ultimate Peru in May/June 2023? Thinking either the 9th or 23rd June, thanks!

Booking options

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Call us on: 01892 527392
Email us at: [email protected]
Return Flights from £649

Cheapest flights between London and San Jose for the next 6 months

Cheapest: £649 April, 2023
Most expensive: £1,248 April, 2023
Arrival information

Arrival

You’ll need to arrive into San Jose International Airport (Juan Santa Maria) International Airport (SJO) on day 1. One of our local team will be there to meet you and take you to the accommodation. There are no activities planned apart from an optional dinner and drinks with the group this evening, so arrive whenever suits you.

Departure

Your trip ends in Santa Teresa on day 10. Return transfers are not included however your guide can easily help you arrange this locally.

Most people fly out of San Jose (which is the same airport you fly in to). It takes around 6 hours to get back to San Jose by bus, so you will need to allow plenty of time to accommodate this. We recommend flying out of San Jose the following day.

An alternative (but more expensive) option is flying out of Tambor Airport (TMU) in Santa Teresa. The airport is 29km from Santa Teresa and takes around 40 minutes to travel to by taxi.

Accommodation & meals

Accommodation

9 nights’ accommodation are included as part of this trip. Most nights are twin rooms, with the exception of quad share rooms in Santa Teresa.

Meals

1 breakfast, 1 lunch and 2 dinners are included as part of this trip. You’ll have to buy the rest of your meals yourself. This gives you maximum flexibility to eat where and when you like.

Minimum age & eligibility

You need to be 18 years old to go on this trip. This trip is designed for 18-35 year olds.

British nationals don’t need a visa to enter Costa Rica. You can stay for up to 90 days under a tourist waiver. You may however, need evidence of return or onward travel. Your passport should have at least 1 month’s validity from the date of your departure.

Please note: Visa rules are subject to change. It’s your responsibility to ensure that information is valid at the time of travel.

Covid safety

This trip is designed with your safety and wellbeing in mind. As a result of Covid-19, many of our suppliers and partners around the world are introducing new policies and procedures surrounding health and safety in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. As the state of travel is evolving these new safety measures will adapt over time, and will be different for each trip. Here are some of the changes you may see on your trip:

Arrival safety meetings
Most trips have an arrival meeting on the first day where the guide or local team will run through the trip, the safety protocols, and to answer any questions you may have. Now more than ever it is important you arrive in time for these meetings.

Proof of vaccination or negative covid test
For the safety of all travellers, at the start of some trips you may be required to show evidence that you are fully vaccinated (14 days after your second dose) and/or show evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the tour start date in order to join the programme.

Updated hygiene and safety procedures
Our suppliers and partners have health and safety procedures in place on all of our trips. These protocols will be updated and adapted as a response to the Coronavirus outbreak, dependent on local restrictions and laws.

Transport and accommodation choices
Our suppliers and partners choose the accommodation and transport on our trips very carefully, and you may see a change to what would normally be used as a response to the outbreak. This may involve such changes as enhanced use of private transport or quieter accommodation.

Trained and knowledgeable staff
Our staff in the UK are trained to help you with your trip before you depart and answer any questions you may have. In addition, the local team and guides on our trips are there to help with any health and safety concerns and to ensure our trips run safely and smoothly.

Reduced group sizes
Some trips will run with reduced group sizes to start with. You may find that trips are more intimate and chilled, whilst still being packed with fun and adventure.

Healthcare
Your guide or the local team will be on hand to help you seek medical attention should you require it during your trip. As medical facilities and standards can vary around the world, you should ensure you have adequate travel insurance in place before you depart to cover you for any medical emergencies.

24/7 emergency support
We operate an emergency phone line for our travellers abroad. This is operated by a UK based member of staff 24/7 if you have a genuine emergency or urgent matter that you need attending.

It is important that you take measures to make travelling safer for yourself and others around you. Ensure you frequently wash your hands, cover your face when you sneeze and cough, bring and use your own hand sanitiser and facial coverings/masks, and enable social distancing where necessary. You should also ensure you listen to the instructions and guidance of the local team at all times, and follow all local laws and restrictions.